Question

The energy we require to live comes from the chemically stored potential energy in food, which is transformed into other energy forms during the metabolism process. PHS 1120, Principles of Modern Physical Science 3 What consequence awaits a person whose combined work and heat output is less than the energy consumed? What happens when the person's work and heat output is greater than the energy consumed? Can an undernourished person perform extra work without extra food? Discuss and defend your answers. Please write a 5-paragraph essay connecting physical principles with biology. Include your responses to the questions above.

Answer 1

Conservation of energy implies that the chemical energy stored in food is converted into work, thermal energy or stored as chemical energy in fatty tissue as shown in figure above. Energy consumed by humans is converted to work, thermal energy, and stored fat.

(a) What consequence awaits a person whose combined work and heat output is less than the energy consumed ?

Ans. If a person consumes more energy than his combined work and heat output, then the unexpanded remainder will be deposited at various locations in and around his body in the form of fat cells.

(b) What happens when the person's work and heat output is greater than the energy consumed ?

Ans. When the person outputs more work and heat than the energy in the food he ate, he loses some weight. The energy has to come from somewhere, and one ready source is the energy, he previously stored as fat.

(c) Can an undernourished person perform extra work without extra food ?

Ans. yes, an undernourished person can perform extra work without extra food.